In an ever evolving world of digital fingerprints, and Ai bots, some things should remain respectable to the core principles. When it comes to tattooing; this means tangible, hand made, old fashion paper and pencil drawings.

I can see it in the social feeds. An aspiring young person looking to become a tattoo artists and join the community of fellow artists, in their journey of self discovery and self decoration. Sharing online how they just acquired an iPad and downloaded ProCreate. Now they are ready to start making tattoos and be an apprentice!

I love to see the motivation. But from a veteran artist point of view; this is not the way.

While I do use an iPad and ProCreate myself in my daily work. It is not my main source of creating. You see, the digital tablet is a tool for efficiency. If you do not possess the understanding of art fundamentals such as shape, structure, lighting, proportions, positioning, balance and more; then the tablet is going to just be glorified tracing paper for you. A crutch.

You can see this throughout the industry. Artists all over the globe just pulling a picture into their tablet from Google, Pinterest, or the latest Ai Image Software. Then dropping it into their program and straight tracing it. Making it a collage with some other found items, add some swirls and negative space winds, then poof, Tattoo!

The interesting this about that is that most clientele do not know any better and are amazed by this. That’s all good too, if that is in fact the artist you wish to be. However, If you are looking to be a Tattoo Artist that’s worth something, and have the chops to outlast the slow seasons, and the trends, and the ups and downs that come with the business, You better know how to create a proper image that works with the body, and has proper composition and structure. This will not happen as successfully as you think on your iPad or similar contraption.

Drawing on paper with pencils, pens and markers will be the way to go.
Here are a just a few reasons why!

1: Drawing on Paper with Markers and Color Pencils is a relatable action to drawing with a tattoo machine.
From the fundamental ways of holding your pencils and markers while you trace designs, to the motions and pressures you use while coloring. These techniques are directly related to using a tattoo machine. Your mentor should be able to show you how one works in the same way as the other. When you get this relationship down, your transition to machine will be much easier.

2: Paper has no boarders to work within.
I know what you're thinking; “But you can zoom in and out on the tablet for more or less space!” True. But that does not equate well to the range of motion you will have when you use a piece of paper, or a human body part.

Drawing on a screen is limited to the size of the screen. Even the iPad Pro’s 12.5” screen is very limiting when you are trying to design a full sleeve, back piece, or other larger scale work. It also goes in the other direction when creating small designs. Digital will allow you to create micro details that do not work in real time.

If you were to draw on paper first, and experience the versatility of movement, and the ability to see the piece in its entirety in real time, without the need to zoom in/out, or have digital distortion, You will have a better scope of adjustments and details. You can also move a piece of paper much like you can move a client when you tattoo them.

3: You need to be more on purpose on paper, much like a tattoo.
When working in digital, your accidents can be erased with the touch of the fingers, or the tap of a button. On paper, you are required to use effort to erase, as well as materials. Forcing you to take a minute to analyze and think about what it is you are about to do. In a tattoo this is crucial. Because as we all know, tattoos do not erase.

4: Sketching on paper reveals traits about “Your” style more than digital.
When you sketch or draw on paper, your movements become the signatures within your artwork. This relates to number 2 above when I spoke about having space to move around. The way you sketch out a shape, or gesture a movement of a figure. The way you create some flow lines. These all become your hidden signature in your work. This is harder to achieve on digital. Not only because of the limited space to work with, but also the reaction of the digital brushes. They will not always react the same way as tangible mediums do. It becomes very limited and stiff, instead of free flowing and organic. Digital creates less “Happy Accidents,” as Bob Ross would say. These accidents, in the eyes of a true artist, become style. Become signature.

5. There is something special about seeing the process of a drawing happen on Paper.
It’s the reason we enjoy the old cartoons over the new ones. The reason we love the DaVinci notebooks. It’s why we put our kids drawings on the refrigerator.

It is the reason a respectable artist, when approached by an aspiring creator, will ask to see your process drawings and sketches. More so than your final pieces or digital creations. We want to see how you went from point A to point B. It will take more papers, more ink, more pencil shavings. But it will be worth it. Keeping these sketches and drawings around also helps when you design future works. You can look back on the process and sketches, and find inspiration in your own portfolio. 41.1404° N, 75.9928° W

Now I am not here to discredit digital media in its entirety. As stated above; I use the iPad and ProCreate almost daily in my business. I was actually late to the party on this movement. When it comes to finding references, quick building designs for clients, adjusting images, or drawing/tracing designs and ideas, it really is an amazing and efficient tool. Much like how pencils, paper, pens and markers are a tool. With that said, the tablet should not be the foundation to your creating! It is not a shortcut to better tattoos!

It will not be the things that qualifies you into a quality apprenticeship.

While working with my recent students and understudies, I told them they were not allowed to draw on their tablets at all while in the shop. No sketching. No laying out designs. No prepping designs or adjusting/erasing things. Nothing! I did not even allow them to find references online most days. All drawings were to be created on paper, with pencils and tracing pens only, from tattoo flash and images found in the books, magazines or art on the wall in the studio. Because when I transition them over to machines, they will have already had the experience of holding a device the right way. Moving their arms and hands in such a way, that pulling lines comes more natural to them. Filling in solid colors and fades will already be familiar. All the way down to the way you sit in your seat while drawing applies here.

In this fast paced digital existence, these devices have their place inside the art world. So I am not saying let’s throw the baby out with the bath water. I am saying, lets remember out roots! Let’s create Our images! Let’s start with the base knowledge of turning imagination into imagery - on a piece of paper! Then let’s hang it up for all to see!

If you are looking to become an artist, the only things you need, is something to make a mark, and something to put that mark on. Then learn to love that process!

Derek Zielinski - Glass Heart Tattoo

You went through the Google search: “Tattoo Shop/Artist Near Me.”
You opened tabs for all the local shop websites.
You asked Facebook for the “Best Tattoo Shop for (X).”
You talked to your tattooed friends and got their recommendations.

And now—you found something you like.

That’s good.
You’ve already done more than most people getting tattooed. Let’s keep that momentum going.

You found a shop that presents itself well and comes with good reviews. Now it’s time to see if it’s a good fit. Here’s a simple checklist you can apply not just to tattoo shops, but to any artisan or hospitality-based business. Let’s begin.

Step 1: Reach Out
Contact the shop.
Start with the phone number listed—if that doesn’t work, send an email.

Be professional.
Let them know you’re interested in getting tattooed and that you like their work or the feel of their business. Ask if you can stop by to speak with an artist about your idea. If they don’t allow walk-ins, they might schedule a consultation, sometimes after you choose an artist. Either way, ask when it’s best to come in.

Something to consider:
~ How were you received during this first contact?
~ Did they seem professional, clear, and helpful—or like you were a hassle?

Step 2: Go to the Shop
Simple, but often the most intimidating part.

If this is your first time walking into a tattoo shop, it’s normal to feel nervous. Bring a friend. Sometimes a friend with no interest in getting tattooed—or one who already has a trusted artist—can offer an objective opinion about the space.

Pay attention to the little things:
~ Is there convenient parking?
~ How is the place decorated?
~ What are the neighboring businesses?

This might seem like background noise, but it all matters—especially when you’re leaving late after a session, trying to find parking on a weekend, or needing food or drinks before or after your appointment.

Step 3: Be Observant
Once you’re inside, this is where your gut will do most of the work.

Ask yourself:
~ How were you greeted?
~ What does the space feel like?
~ Is it clean? Smell good? Look organized?
~ What’s playing—TV, music, videos?
~ Is the setup open-concept or private rooms?

Ideally, you’re greeted like you’ve already been there before. That’s the gold standard. But at the very least, there should be effort—a simple hello, eye contact, a sense of welcome. You’ll know what feels right for you.

If someone barely looks up and mutters, “Can I help you?” or worse, says nothing—that’s not the vibe. You’re about to invite someone into your personal space. You should feel safe doing that.

Now take in the atmosphere.
Is it loud and excessive? Quiet and calm? Something in between?
Are the artists focused and creating—or glued to their devices?

You’ll also want to consider:
~ Is there privacy if you need it?
~ Are the conversations around you ones you’d be comfortable in?
~ What kind of music is playing, and how loud?

Remember, you’re entering a space where pain becomes transformation.
What surrounds you during this process becomes part of the energetic imprint in your tattoo. So you should choose that space wisely.

Why This Matters
These steps help you tune in. They apply to more than just tattoos.
If you're spending time and money on a service that involves your body, energy, or personal space, you should feel seen, heard, and respected.

And yet—I’ve heard the stories. I’ve seen it happen.

Clients tell me:
~ “We walked in and no one even looked up.”
~ “They were buried in their phones.”
~ “We waited and no one came out to talk to us.”
~ “They seemed annoyed when I shared my idea.”
~ “I felt like a problem, not a client.”

That list goes on. And sadly, I’ve seen it firsthand in other shops.

It doesn’t take much to offer a greeting, a little guidance, or a moment of presence. If you’re not getting that—it’s okay to leave. There are other shops, other artists, other spaces that will welcome you.

Bonus Insight: Read the Room

Sometimes… people have off days.
Shops get slammed. Schedules shift. Energy dips.

If the vibe feels off, ask yourself:
~ Was it a holiday weekend?
~ Did you show up right when they opened, or right before they closed?
~ Were they deep in a long session?
~ Were you able to speak directly to an artist?

If something felt off, consider making a second visit.
It might confirm your gut—or change your mind.

And if not?

Back to those Google Listings we go!
41.1404° N, 75.9928° W

Derek Zielinski - Glass Heart Tattoo

So you are ready for your first, or maybe next tattoo! That feeling of excitement and nerves get going in your being. You look forward to having a brand new decoration on your body. but there is that looming feeling of “What if…”

The what if’s of a collector:
What if it looks like shit when it’s done?
What if it get’s infected?
What if it costs too much?
What if they do not have available time?
What if they can’t get me in today?
What if I don’t like the design?
What if I don’t know what I want?

The list can go on and on. We have all been there at some point. Well, maybe not all of us. But in the 20 years I have been active in this craft, the thoughts above are real. They are also a lot more common than many will admit.

Since its steady rise in popularity from the early 2000’s, tattooing has gained a lot of traction in the mainstream. TV, Movies, Music, Celebrity Culture and everything in between, all now have tattoos featured somewhere within. Competition shows on many stations. Countless websites focussed on the subjects and culture. TikTok’s, Instagrams, and Facebook Groups created for both support and destruction of the fashion, the craft, and the practice of tattoos. It is everywhere, and it is not slowing down.

So what is one to do when deciding on getting a new piece of skin art? What do you choose? Who do you choose to do it? How much should you expect to pay? So on and so on. Well that’s what I hope to help with here. We will go through the steps on how to identify the shop and artist for you, and your next tattoo.

But first: You need to know what it is you want!

Before we go into how to find the artist to create your piece. You as the collector need to know what it is you are looking to have done. This is step one.

As an artist, we hear a version of this statement a lot: “ I bet you would just love for someone to come in and tell you to do whatever you want!” The answer to this is both yes, and no. Yes I would love for my clients to have the absolute trust in me to create something they will love that is also something I would love to create. But also NO. I do not wish to have someone just come in and say create whatever you want. If you follow the steps we will be discussing in this ongoing topic, and get to this point with your tattooer, they will know that it is ok to do such a request. Because you have vetted them carefully, and know what you want, and know how they create.

So before you go looking for an artist/shop, Know what it is you are looking to have done. Doesn’t need to be exact. Just needs to be known.

Now that you know what you want, how do you find someone to do it? Let’s go into the first steps to finding your spot.

The easiest and most efficient way to find a shop, and an artist to do your work, is Google Search. The reason being, well it’s google! They have all of the registered businesses in your area right in your phone. They load up the results based on proximity to your location, ratings, reviews, and sometimes even paid for sponsorships and adds.

You can start by searching the simple phrase:“Tattoo Shop near me.”
Simple enough right! Once you hit enter, it will show you the local business listings near you labeled as Tattoo Shop, Tattoo Artist, and sometimes Permanent Cosmetics, or Piercings. Or even business with Tattoo or Ink in their official names.

Below that you will find websites related to tattoo shops near you. This usually consists of website address for local shops. Also, Facebook or Instagram Pages of local shops. Sometimes you will find local media pieces about shops in your area.

You can refine your search to be more exact in its results by adding keywords to your request. Examples: “ Tattoo Shop in (Your County),” or “Tattoo Shop in (Your City.)” This will niche down the results to a list that starts with the closest ones to you, wherever you are searching from.

Other refinements that can really get you going:
“Traditional Tattoo Shop (County/City),”
“All Female Tattoo Shop (county/city.)”,
“Portrait Tattoo Shop (County/City,)”
“Walk In Tattoo Shop (County/City,)”
“Private Tattoo Shop (County/City.)”
41.1404° N, 75.9928° W

You can add anything you like into that space. The upside is, you may get some results that will align with your search. The downside is, they may not be local, or even regional. You see, not all businesses use terms, or meta tags, or even specific niches in their names or tabs when it comes to a business listing or identification. So if you find one that does, it may not be local. (But that is ok if you are willing to travel.)

You have the business listings open, now what?
Now we do our research. What is the easiest way to do this, but is not the most efficient way: Look at the pictures that come up in the listing.

This is the easiest because you do not need to leave the listings. There is a photo gallery attached to each business listing. It usually is pictures taken by clients and patrons of the establishment. This is where the not so efficient point comes in. Customers are usually the ones who share pictures of the place. Pictures of the process. Pictures of themselves there. But if you are lucky, every once and awhile they may get a clean, well readable photo of a tattoo that was done there. Not always likely though.

Every now and then you will find a business listing with a gallery with quality photos of work produced in that location. This is a good thing. These are some of the first listings you may consider looking into. The reason being, they already go a little out of their way to get your attention. Either way, if what you see in the free gallery peaks your interest, open their listing for further information.

This brings us to our next step: Identifying a professional from an amateur, from an approach with caution shop.

First and foremost when considering a shops listing: How easy is it for you to contact them? A professional studio and listing will offer you their address, their phone number, their hours of operation, their website, their email, and many other options available through google. Should you find a listing that does not have the information above, it does not mean it is not available. It means you may have to go a layer deeper to find it. Should the listing only have the name if the business and address. You may want to consider passing it by.

Now that we like what we see, we go further: Business Website and online presence.

In your google listing, there should be a button labeled “Website.” If your listing does not have this button, they may not have set it up or they may not have an online presence. With the internet of information, no website should be a negative consideration.

If your choice listing has this button. Click it and see where it takes you. Professional listings will usually take you to a .com website or landing page.

Professional websites are the more attractive option. They are designed with simplicity and function in mind. Easy to find information for contacting the shop, getting directions, messaging the business directly, and viewing portfolios of work by the artists at the location.

Facebook and Instagram pages are not lesser than websites. However they do add some barriers to information. For Facebook you will need to navigate to the about me section to find contact info, shop hours and the like, if it is even there. Then you need to scroll the timeline posts to check out the gallery recents. If you wish to see specific portfolios, you will need to find the photos section and hope they have separated the galleries from the collection.

Instagram on the other hand has this information on the top of the page below the profile image and name. A lot of times they will have “No DM’s” meaning “Don’t message. We do not answer here.” Then you will need to find the phone number if it is listed, or an email address. Instagram has a collection style gallery for photos. You will need to scroll through, and see what you like, then click on that pic and hope there is information about the artist there. If you are lucky, a link to their personal page will be accessible for more.

This all can be a pain in the ass at times. But it is a necessary first step in this process of finding a shop. With this information we just covered, you should now understand how to find the portfolios or public listed pictures of the shops work. You can then take your idea you chose earlier, and see if there are shops/artists in your area creating images like the one you are looking for.

With that I leave you with some homework! I want you to pic a tattoo from the collection of pieces you have inside the file cabinet we call brain. I want you to write it down on a piece of paper. Then I want you to Google search your city, county, or region’s tattoo shops using the prompts we spoke of above. See if you can find some shops that create the ideas you have in mind. Check out websites and social media pages. Look for convenience to contact information, and portfolio access. See if what we learned here helps you find someone who could possibly be your next artist. Even if you have an artist you work with already on the regular, try this out. Get an idea of who is creating what in your area. You may be the link that connects someone online looking for “Best Local Tattoo Artist and go….”

Derek Zielinski - Glass Heart Tattoo

Glass Heart Tattoo is a proud provider of Griffin Salve. Some of the industry's highest quality tattoo aftercare on the market. Designed by Griffin Family Farms. Husband and Wife team, Matt and Marissa, have purposefully designed products that not only moisturizes, but help assist in healing your skin after your tattoo session, a day in the sun, or any form of skin irritation. Paired together, the combo of Foam Soap with Oil or Salve combo will have you healing in no time.

• The ingredients in Griffin Aftercare Products are individually selected for their unique abilities. Their proprietary blend of herbs are infused along with a special blend of organic oils, and is specifically formulated to:

• Reduce redness, swelling, and irritation from whatever life throws at you.
• Provide natural antibacterial, antimicrobial, and antifungal properties.
• Soothe pain, inflammation, and itching
• Moisturize the skin and stimulate cellular repair.
• Accelerate recovery by rejuvenating skin on contact

The way that Griffin Aftercare works with the skin is nothing short of amazing.

Pick some up today at Glass Heart Tattoo! Don't forget to grab some at your next appointment with us!

Glass Heart's Owner and Artist, Derek Zielinski, appeared on Season 9 of Ink Master.

Spike TV's hit original reality-competition series Ink Master returned for a ninth season on Tuesday, June 6 at 10/9c, with the highest stakes yet and twice as much prize money on the line. This season, shops from all around the country were sending two of their strongest artists to compete for a $200,000 grand prize, an editorial feature in Inked Magazine and, for the first time in Ink Master history, the title of "Master Shop."

Derek competed along side his friend Thom Bulman, Owner and Artist, of Classic Trilogy Tattoos in Mattydale, NY. Together they represent Classic Trilogy as a team, and competed for the Prize.

Set aside some time to check it out.
Find it on Paramount Plus, or Amazon Prime.